Born and raised in Australia, Elesia iiMura moved to Japan with her rock star father as a teenager. Making music was pretty much her destiny. Today Boomshots premieres Australian artist ELESIA iiMURA’s new song “Come For Me.” Produced by Travis Lee, ELESIA’s sultry pop vocals ride over the bouncy dancehall-fused beat and Jamaica’s own Assassin a.k.a. Agent Sasco delivers a powerful guest feature. Last year ELESIA and Assasin collaborated on his single “Crazy” and she played his love interest in the song’s video. A new visual for “Come For Me,” shot on location in Kingston, Jamaica, will soon premiere on MASS APPEAL For now, get familiar with the tune. Audio After The Jump…Read more »

Andre Xcellence is a reckless Trini youth based in Los Angeles whose daily agenda includes “Shuttin’ down the club, even bringin’ Ballys back.” To be honest we just heard about him yesterday but he had us from the moment he flipped Super Cat’s “Don Dada” hook over a frenetic Supakuma-produced track that sounds something like Diwali on steroids. With a lyrical flow that’s more rap than reggae, Xcellence shouts out Charlie Sheen and displays a zero-phuxx-given sense of humor: “I don’t want you to limbo low / I want you to bounce like a Backpage bimbo” etc… Definitely not suited for the conscious Rasta crowd, “Ram It Up” gets a Boomshots premieres simply because the energy is undeniable. If you’re in the mood to “celebrate like we just won a gold cup” you need this tune in your life. Audio After The Jump…Read more »

Gongzilla claps a lyrical gun salute in this hardcore reality tune about the rules & laws & codes of conduct that govern life pon di ends—and the lionheart street soldiers who enforce them. “All who perpetrate hafi pack up and run,” Damian spits with an ill rapid-fire flow on this high energy dancehall track produced by Sean “Pow” Diedrick and featuring what sounds like a Buju sample on the chorus. Like the song says, “No shot nah buss when a man a keep treat.” One more wicked piece of tune from the Stony Hill files. Wickedness increase! Audio After The Jump…Read more »

New York dancehall producer Jon FX established his name with hard-hitting remixes like the classic “Gun Session / Survivor” mashup featuring Kartel, Akon, Sizzla and Shabba Ranks. His latest release—Sizzla’s “I’m Yours,” which Boomshots proudly premieres today—proves that he’s also a first-rate producer capable of presenting hardcore Jamaican talents like Kalonji with an international-radio-ready sound. Wouldn’t mind seeing this squeeze into “Tropical House” radio rotation. Audio After The Jump…Read more »

Back when Ezra Gale—the bassist for undergound Brooklyn ensemble Super Hi-Fi—was in college, another band he played in opened for Nirvana. Now, 25 years after the Seattle trio’s classic Nevermind, he and Super Hi-Fi decided to put a very different spin on Kurt Cobain’s songbook. Super Hi-Fi Plays Nirvana will be released tomorrow on Gale’s boutique label Very Special Recordings via digital and cassette only. The throwback format is not just about retro cool, it’s also highly affordable, allowing for creative freedom and experimentation. “I hate cover versions that just sound like the original,” says Gale. “So with Nirvana, it seemed interesting to make something new out of something so familiar.” With Jon Lipscomb on guitar, Madhu Siddappa on drums, and trombonist Rick Parker dueling with Curtis Fowlkes, Robert Stringer and Alex Asher on 2nd trombone, Super Hi-Fi recorded instrumental versions of six Nirvana tunes (including Shocking Blue’s “Love Buzz” and LeadBelly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night,” both signature Nirvana covers) plus one original cut, entitled “Space Needle.” The sound is even more of a departure than Little Roy’s beloved reggae version of “Lithium.” Instead of Cobain’s guitar shrieks and Grohl’s chest-pounding drums, Super Hi-Fi (who describe themselves as “Brooklyn’s premiere two trombone dub experience”) serve up woozy horns, and heavy dub mixes courtesty of Nicola Stemmer, Victor Rice, Doctor Sub, and Prince Polo. Having a hard time imaging it? Well fortunately, you don’t have to. Boomshots is proud to premiere the full album right now. Audio After The Jump…Read more »

“The main idea was to paint a vivid picture of a twisted fantasy,” says director Peter Parkkerr of his latest video. “Starface played the role of a sexy French maid who serviced Elephant Man’s room. It’s definitely gonna light up your TV screens.” After one glass of wine, Elly’s mind starts to wander. And after that, well… one wine won’t do. Boomshots proudly premieres the mad new music video from Energy God Productions: Elly alongside a fresh new face on the dancehall scene: Starface. “This was a fun video to shoot,” she says. “The acting part is always what I enjoy, to be someone else for a minute. I appreciate Elephant Man reaching out to me as a new artiste to represent on his track.” Dancehall’s Energy God was impressed with the new artist. “I wanted a bad female for this track,” he says. “When I made checks the feedback I was getting was all saying to choose Starface. Send her the track and she proved herself on it.” But don’t take his word for it. Check “Tek Wuk” for yourself. Video After The Jump…Read more »

“It’s a woman’s empowerment song,” explains Nadine Sutherland of her latest release. “Basically, it’s saying Watch, listen and learn before you give your all.” Giving her all to reggae music since an early age, Sutherland signed with Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong label at a tender age and exploded to worldwide fame with her Dave Kelly–produced 1993 smash “Action.” Since that time she’s maintained her standing as one of Jamaica’s finest vocalists and also grown as a person. “I think as a grown woman I am hesitant to ‘fall in love’ or to give of myself as easily in comparison to when I was younger,” she says of the song she cowrote, and whhose lyrics share the blessings of hard-learned life lessons. Today Boomshots proudly premieres the tune, produced by College Boyz and distributed by Zojak. “I guess I have become wiser because of having experiences with people who have ulterior agendas. So I’m an experienced lover whey know me ABC’s, me no run Inna nobody, me tek it EZZ’s.”Audio After The Jump…Read more »

“Another mother bawl when she see her son,” sings Rico Tayla in his new song, “spread out in him own blood on the ground.” As each new day seems to bring another horrific news report about police officers abusing their authority and killing the very people they are sworn to serve and protect, Tayla’s tune reminds us that there are good cops and bad cops all over the world—but some police are just plain bad news. With a system in place that protect its own, the problem is deep-rooted. “In every society worldwide those who don’t have power are always abused,” says the singer. “In some countries it is who have money and who don’t. In some it’s about color or race while in others it’s by religion. But the police or any other military force always abuse those in the society that aren’t considered important.” The tune hits iTunes tomorrow, but Boomshots is proud to premiere it today—because the way things are going, 24 hours might be too long to wait. Audio & Interview After The Jump…Read more »

In this summer of dancehall/pop fusion, everybody seems to be jumping on the reggae bandwagon—with mixed results. Born in Jamaica and raised in New York City, K’Coneil makes music that reflects this blend of cultures organically without feeling forced or contrived. The latest single off his debut EP, LOVE/LUST, is an R&B/dancehall cut called “Feels So Right” produced by New Yorker DJ Calli B. “I wanted to make a feel-good song that spoke about a relationship that just felt great and didn’t require any effort it was just easy and natural,” says the artist. “All the stars aligned and it’s just a perfect match ‘made in heaven.'” Today Boomshots proudly premieres the music video for the track, directed by Zurisaddair, which was shot in Coney Island and Times Square with choreography by the International Danca Family. Like K’Coneil, it’s a perfect blend. Video After The Jump…

We may be close to the end of August, but trust and believe summer is still in full effect. Summer 2016 has been a big season for reggae and dancehall in the international pop charts, although much of it got labeled as “tropical house” in the mainstream media. That’s why you’ve got to love Konzequence Muzik Group for naming their summer juggling the “Tropical House Riddim”—a strategic move to rebrand this true Jamaican dancehall track in the midst of everything that’s going. “It’s all about a party vibes,” says reggae star Gyptian of his song on the riddim, a thing called “Summer Is Back.” Today Boomshots proudly premieres the official music video which is fully loaded with plenty of girls in bikinis, cool drinks, a secluded tropical waterfall—why can’t every day be like this? Video After The Jump…Read more »

“I’m a messenger from Jah,” says Gary Nesta Pine. “My dad was a postman; I feel like I am the postman of music.” The long-time leader of NYC’s notorious City Heat band, Pine was blessed to serve as lead vocalist for the legendary reggae band The Wailers for many years, and he’s also collabed with French hitmaker Bob Sinclair. The singer is now preparing to release a new album titled Revelations on August 26th. Today Boomshots proudly premieres one of the album’s 13 tracks, a musical thing called “Thanks and Praise.” On maybe the most personal cut on the album, Gary says he’s “just giving thanks and praise to the almighty Rastafari, for the mountains, the birds, the world, the people who influenced my life, the love of my family, his guidance. It’s a prayer from me to God.” Audio After The Jump…Read more »

“Don’t Fall In Love,” Some Say, “Stand In Love.” But Sometimes You Have To Sidung

Dancehall culture celebrates the female form to the max. The bigger the better seems to be the rule—and as bare as you dare. Far from being “sex objects,” strong women like Pamputtae and the dancers in this video are very much in control. In this video, directed by Robert Cooper, the ladies call the shots and Pritty Di General plays his position. Video After The Jump…Read more »